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This blog will mainly focus on crime in and around Southwest Missouri....Winner Of Springfield Blogger's Association: ROOKIE BLOG OF THE YEAR 2009--WINNER News or Current Events Blog Of The Year 2010
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A man from crane facing burglary and receiving stolen property charges waived his preliminary hearing last week on two of the charges and has been bound over for trial.

Authorities say Tony Allen Johnson, 44, allegedly stole two leaf blowers
from the garage of the Crane City Hall around Halloween.

A confidential
informant told authorities that he witnessed a man known as "Buttcrack Bob"
unload two orange and white leaf blowers in front of Tony Allen Johnson's
residence and saw Johnson take them inside his house.

Johnson, who was
working off a municipal fine by washing police cars for the city, had complete
access to the area where the leaf blowers were stolen, according to Crane police
chief John Elmore.

According to court documents, Johnson "was
bragging about taking the [Stihl] leaf blowers," that were bought with grant money and are valued at
$1,500.

Johnson is due back in court on charges connected to the theft from city hall on January 8th.

Johnson is alleged to be a participant in a burglary ring that hit a residential
garage in the city and various residences within the county in the last few
months.

A motion for a reduction in bond for Johnson, who was on probation for a drug charge when he was arrested on the above charges, was declined at last weeks court appearance. He remains jailed on $45,000 bond.